IndyCar Belle Isle: Marco Andretti wins first pole since 2013

Andretti Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian IndyCar driver Marco Andretti (98) during Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday, May 25, 2018.

DETROIT — As his legendary grandfather, Mario Andretti, likes to say: "Someone has to be first. Might as well be you."

On Saturday morning, Marco Andretti was first, as he scored the pole position for the first leg of the weekend's Chevrolet Dual in Detroit.

The Herta-Andretti Autosport driver ripped off a series-best time of 1:14.8514 in the closing minute of the second qualifying session. He was nearly a half-second quicker the sessions's second fastest driver, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports' Robert Wickens (1:15.3267).

Andretti’s previous best start on the streets of Belle Isle was sixth (2007). He's only started in the first five rows five times in 14 tries.

After putting an end to one drought, Andretti is hoping to double down this afternoon.

"The win column is what's really bugging me now," said Andretti, who hasn't won a race since 2011. "Starting first is awesome, but I defeinitely want to win the race. …. As soon as we won the pole, my brain flipped the switch to the race."

Andretti's pole-run paced an excellent day for Honda-powered drivers. Starting next to him on Row 1 is Chip Ganassi racing superstar Scott Dixon, who posted the fastest time in the day's first qualifying session (1:15.4186).